New theater complex in OV

New theater complex in OV

Dave Perry/The Explorer, Leticia Felix, an employee with Tracy's Dynamic Cleaners, cleaned one of the theaters at the Century Theatres at Oro Valley Marketplace last Thursday. Chairs are bagged to keep them clean during construction. The 12-screen Cinemark complex opens to the public this Friday.

Century Theatres at Oro Valley Marketplace opens to the public
this week, with a series of special events by invitation preceding
Friday’s general admission business.

The complex, with 12 screens, digital sound and all-stadium
seating for 2,100 people in theaters of several capacities, lies
close by the intersection of Tangerine and Oracle roads in Oro
Valley’s new shopping center.

A “friends and family” event, for “people who have spent a great
deal of time building the theater,” was held Tuesday, according to
James Meredith, vice president of marketing and communications for
Cinemark in Plano, Texas.

On Wednesday, “Old Friends Become New Neighbors” is the theme,
with guests enjoying $1 concessions and those proceeds benefiting
Catalina Community Services.

A grand opening VIP press event, dubbed Arts and Entertainment
Night, starts at 5 p.m. Thursday. A short presentation, projection
booth tour, reception and ribbon-cutting are planned. University of
Arizona softball star Jennie Finch is the guest of honor.

The complex opens to the public on Friday, which is
Halloween.

Ticket prices at the new complex are “in line with the market,”
Meredith said. Adult tickets are $9 weekdays, and $9.25 on weekends
after 6 p.m. Children are $6.25. The “early bird” show, the first
show of a day, is $5. Seniors aged 62 and over can buy tickets for
$6.25 each.

“We’ll have tiered pricing” for students and members of the
military, Meredith said.

Century Theatres at Oro Valley Marketplace is one of the
locations for Cinemark’s new “self-serve” or “cafeteria-style”
concession stands.

“It’s a real favorite with our customers,” Meredith said. “They
can make their popcorn the way they like it, decide how much ice to
put in their drinks. There are people who are helping, but the
customers get to select exactly what they want, and they’re not
waiting for someone to serve them.”

Jerry Schoen is manager of the new complex. There are 60
employees, most of them part-time, Meredith said.

Century Theatres at the Oro Valley Marketplace is one of six
Cinemark complexes in greater Tucson. The others are the Century 20
El Con, Century Park Place Mall, the Century 16 and the Century
Gateway in Tucson, and the Cinemark 10 in Sierra Vista.

The theater complex is one of the first businesses to open in
Oro Valley Marketplace. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy have
opened in the last week. A Walmart Supercenter opened Wednesday
morning.